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January was one of warmest and driest on record

From left, Jessica Conforti, Amber Annis and Nancy Koucha, all on vacation from Wayne, N. J., catch some rays at Lido Public Beach on Jan. 9.

HERALD-TRIBUNE ARCHIVE / 2013 / DAN WAGNER

STAFF REPORT

Published: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 3:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 3:55 p.m.

Last month was one of the 10 warmest and driest Januaries on record for much of Southwest Florida, including the Sarasota-Bradenton area.

Facts

BY THE NUMBERS

TOP 10 WARMEST JANUARIES FOR SARASOTA-BRADENTON

Average temperature:

1. 72.0 IN 1937

2. 71.1 IN 1974

3. 70.5 IN 1950

4. 67.9 IN 1993

5. 67.5 IN 1916

6. 67.4 IN 1991

6. 67.4 IN 1989

8. 67.0 IN 2013

9. 66.9 IN 1990

10.66.4 IN 1925

Normal average temperature for January at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport: 61.4

TOP 10 DRIEST JANUARIES FOR SARASOTA-BRADENTON

1. 0.00 IN 1950

2. 0.02 IN 1927

3. 0.03 IN 1974

4. 0.15 IN 1947

5. 0.20 IN 2013

5. 0.20 IN 1937

7. 0.22 IN 1956

8. 0.26 IN 2003

9. 0.29 IN 1990

10. 0.34 IN 2001

Normal rainfall for January at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport: 2.49 inches

Source: National Weather Service

The average temperature for Sarasota-Bradenton was 67 degrees, nearly six degrees above the normal mark of 61.4 for January, making last month the eighth-warmest since recordkeeping began in 1911.

Last month also tied with 1937 as the fifth-driest on record, with only two-tenths of an inch of rain falling during January. Normal rainfall for the month is nearly 2.5 inches.

It was the fourth-warmest January for Venice, with an average temperature of 69.1 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Venice was slightly wetter than Sarasota-Bradenton, with nearly a half-inch of rain, making it the 11th-driest on record.

<p>Last month was one of the 10 warmest and driest Januaries on record for much of Southwest Florida, including the Sarasota-Bradenton area.</p><p>The average temperature for Sarasota-Bradenton was 67 degrees, nearly six degrees above the normal mark of 61.4 for January, making last month the eighth-warmest since recordkeeping began in 1911.</p><p>Last month also tied with 1937 as the fifth-driest on record, with only two-tenths of an inch of rain falling during January. Normal rainfall for the month is nearly 2.5 inches.</p><p>It was the fourth-warmest January for Venice, with an average temperature of 69.1 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Venice was slightly wetter than Sarasota-Bradenton, with nearly a half-inch of rain, making it the 11th-driest on record.</p><p>Punta Gorda (67.6 degrees)had its seventh-warmest and sixth-driest (0.4 inches of rain) January.</p><p>The National Weather Service said high pressure that dominated the region's weather caused the warm and dry conditions.</p><p>Forecasts for the next week call for more seasonal weather, with high temperatures in the low to mid-70s and lows near 60 degrees.</p>